Turkey is a nation of diverse cultural heritage, situated at the crossroads between Europe and Asia. Home to beautiful architecture, stunning national parks and many points of interest, it’s the sights that draw many to the country.
While the usually thriving tourism industry has suffered a downturn in recent years, due to political turmoil and growing uncertainty around the region, there have been signs of recovery and it still plays an important role in Turkey’s economy
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How to Get a Job in Turkey
Your hunt for a Turkish job begins at home, as you’ll need confirmation of work to secure a work permit before you arrive in the country. There are a number of job sites you can use:
- Expat.com
- iSKUR
- Jobs In Istanbul
- Marmaris Recruitment
- Reed.co.uk – Jobs In Turkey
- Secretcv.com
- Totaljobs – Jobs In Turkey
- Yenibiris.com
Degrees that Guarantee a Job in Turkey
1. Surgeons / Doctors (Medicine degree)
Salary Range: from 14,600 TRY to 45,200 TRY
Surgeons top the list of the highest paying careers due to the critical nature of their job. A surgeon’s profession involves high risk and requires extensive knowledge and a long learning path; the necessary ingredients for a high paying career.
2. Judges (Law related degree)
Salary Range: from 12,200 TRY to 37,900 TRY
Judges earn quite high salaries because of the huge responsibilities associated with their job. Deciding people’s fates is not an easy task and the high wage is perfectly justified.
3. Lawyers (Law related degree)
Salary Range: from 9,900 TRY to 30,700 TRY
The main reason that lawyers earn big wages is because of their high perceived value in the eyes of their clients. A successful lawyer can save/earn you tons of money or can possibly spare you a death sentence.
4. Bank Managers (Accounting and Business administration degree)
Salary Range: from 9,320 TRY to 28,900 TRY
Being in charge of hundreds of millions in funds and investments with all the associated risks that come along makes managing a bank an extremely critical task worthy of a large salary.
5. Chief Executive Officers (Business administration related degrees)
Salary Range: from 8,740 TRY to 27,100 TRY
CEOs are primarily responsible for the success or failure of complete organizations. Their huge remuneration is due to the vast scope of impact as well as the risks involved.
6. Chief Financial Officers (Accounting and Business administration degree)
Salary Range: from 8,160 TRY to 25,300 TRY
Any job that is about managing money automatically qualifies for high pay. CFOs manage budgets, spending, costs, and revenue which directly impacts the operations of the organization.
7. Orthodontists (Medicine and health related degrees)
Salary Range: from 7,870 TRY to 24,400 TRY
Orthodontists operate in an industry where people are willing to pay high costs for a service, which directly makes Orthodontists among the best paying jobs.
8. College Professors
Salary Range: from 6,990 TRY to 21,700 TRY
College professors are among the top-earning and most prestigious careers. Becoming a professor is not easy and requires persistence which is partly why they earn so high.
9. Pilots (aeronautic engineering)
Salary Range: from 5,830 TRY to 18,100 TRY
Probably the only career on the list that involves some kind of excitement, nevertheless; pilots undergo rigorous training programs and they are responsible for the safety of thousands of people every day.
10. Marketing Directors (Accounting and Business administration degree)
Salary Range: from 5,240 TRY to 16,300 TRY
Marketing directors are in charge of increasing the revenue of their organizations. They are directly responsible for generating business and they are well paid for that reason.
Recommended Video: The 10 Most In Demand Professions In The World Today
Jobs in Turkey
Despite its status as an advanced developing nation, the Turkish economy is facing a sharp slowdown due to a recent currency and debt crisis, as it struggles to maintain its rapid expansion. The unemployment rate for the country’s 82.7 million inhabitants reached 13.5% in December 2018, with only manufacturing, construction and the services sectors reporting any growth. Its top exports are vehicles and machinery (including computers), which brought in a combined total of around £32billion in 2018, while accounting for a quarter of all Turkish exports for the year.
The capital city of Ankara, as well as the country’s employment and international relations hub Istanbul, are the focal points of Turkish business.
Popular Graduate Jobs
- Engineering
- Finance
- IT
- Sales
- Supply chain management
As a foreign worker, you’ll be hard pushed to embark on some careers in Turkey due to government restrictions on recruitment – the legal, medical and mining fields are all off-limits to international applicants.
If you’re hoping to teach English as a foreign language or enter the tourism industry, you’re in luck – English-speaking foreign workers are particularly popular in these sectors. While you won’t need to be fluent in Turkish, you’ll still need at least a good grasp of the language to succeed in your work.
While the cost of living in Turkey is generally much lower than in the UK, most graduate position salaries cover basic living costs and not much else.
Turkey’s location as the bridge between Europe and Asia makes it an enticing gateway destination for UK workers hoping to gain a global business perspective. Graduates may find work in Turkey through large UK companies such as Marks & Spencer, HSBC, Vodafone and BP.
Summer Jobs
There’s plenty of summer work available for those who’d like a taste of Turkish culture while earning some money, particularly in the tourism industry. Whether you’re looking for general vacancies or have a Turkish city in mind, visit:
- iAgora
- Learn4Good – Summer Jobs In Turkey
- SeasonWorkers
Alternatively, you can sign up to a temping agency, such as Adecco Turkey, and receive updates on short-term positions tailored to your preferences.
Teaching Jobs
As the country continues building links with English-speaking economies, TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) teachers are sought after across all parts of Turkey and for students of all ages. Demand is particularly high in hotspots including Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir.
Once you’ve obtained a Bachelor’s degree, a 170-hour TEFL course certificate and some hands-on classroom experience, you’ll be a prime candidate for TEFL work in Turkey.
Why Study in Turkey
Turkey has traditionally been a popular study abroad destination with many prestigious universities and courses to choose from. Below we have outlined our favorite reasons to study in Turkey:
- It is multicultural: Turkey is literally a bridge between the East and the West, its landmass straddling both Europe and Asia. With close proximity to Africa too, it is a cultural melting pot where people of all cultures and faiths can feel at home. Indeed more than 30,000 international students come here to study, with growing numbers coming from continental Europe, Africa, the United States and Asia.
- It’s friendly: Turks are known for their warmth and hospitality. You’ll soon be drinking çay (tea) and playing tavla (backgammon) with the locals and being invited round for breakfast by your neighbors. Most Turks enjoy meeting foreign visitors and practicing their English.
- It has natural wonders: Turkey has more than 5,000 miles of coastline and is washed by the waters of four very different seas, the Mediterranean to the south, the Aegean to the west, the Black Sea to the north and the small Sea of Marmara just below Istanbul. The Kaçkar mountains in the north-east are a hiker’s paradise with secret valleys, wonderful views and rare wildlife.
- Exciting cities: With 12 million inhabitants, hip, fast-paced Istanbul is one of the world’s largest cities and the only one to span two continents. It is surrounded by the waters of the Bosphorus strait and the Sea of Marmara and is a cultural hub with breathtaking landmarks such as the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. High on a rocky hill inland is Ankara, Turkey’s modern capital with a historic heart. The port of Izmir, on the sparkling Aegean coast, is surrounded by olive groves and vineyards and close to Ephesus with its impressive Roman ruins.
- It has a rich history: Turkey is an open-air museum, full of ancient sites and ruins that bear testament to the many civilizations that emerged or flourished here, including Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman. Here you will find the world’s best-preserved Neolithic settlement at Çatalhöyük, the famous city of Troy and the statues of Greek and Persian gods on Mount Nemrut, described by Unesco as the 8th wonder of the world.
- The food is delicious: From the savory pastries and kebabs served on the streets of Istanbul to the fresh fish, grilled corn and stuffed mussels sold on the coast, Turkish cuisine is a mouthwatering fusion and refinement of Central Asian, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Caucasian and Balkan dishes. You’ll soon be eating olives and cheese for breakfast, drinking yogurt with every meal, and sip lots and lots of Turkish tea.
- The climate is kind: Istanbul and Izmir enjoy hot, dry summers and mild, cool, wet winters. Ankara has hot, dry summers and cold, snowy winters.
- It has high standards of education: Turkey is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, reflecting its ambitions to compete in the global market for international students. Degrees granted by Turkish universities are recognized across the world and a growing number of programs are taught in English, especially in areas such as engineering, international relations and business. Many of Turkey’s universities have modern campuses and state-of-the-art facilities.
- It is affordable: Tuition fees and the cost of living are lower in Turkey than in most European or American countries yet the quality of education is still high. There are also scholarships available that cover not only tuition fees but accommodation, insurance and travel costs.
- English is widely spoken: A growing number of courses at Turkish universities are taught in English and many others offer the opportunity to learn English. English is also widely spoken in the major cities and tourist resorts.
In conclusion, you should consider studying any of the courses listed in this post if you want to get a job immediately after you graduate from any university in Turkey.
